Inclined railway.



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INCLINBD RAILWAY.

ArPLmATIoN FILED ooT.25,19os.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y i U w @p7/WMM- Mmm PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. W. H. STRIGKLER.

INCLINBD RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 25,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. STRICKLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

INCLINED RAILWAY.

Patented April 17, 1906.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. STRICK- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inclined Railways, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is applicable generally to that class of inclined railways in which the car is drawn up an inclined track by means of a chain or cable which is automatically engaged or picked up by a device carried by the car. At the outset it may be observed that while I prefer to use a chain having special features which adapt it for the use hereinafter described, still a cable or similar device having these features or their equivalents is within the scope of the invention, and in construing this specification chains, cables, and other suitable devices are to be regarded as equivalents, excepting when a link construction is specifically described and manifestly intended to the exclusion of a cable, &c. It may be observed also that the invention is particularly adapted for that class of inclined railways, such as rollercoasters, &c., that are intended for pleasure purposes. Still I reserve to myself the exclusive right to its use on inclined railways and other structures, for Whatever purpose they may be used, so far as it may be applicable. With this understanding the following description will be confined to a pleasurerailway.

The track at the starting-station is usually horizontal, and the car is started manually and pushed along until it reaches the point at which it automatically picks up the tractionchain. Certainty of operation and safety are essential; but it is also of prime importance that shocks and sudden j olts be eliminated, because these railways are patronized largely by children and from the standpoint of commercial success, as well as for other reasons, it is undesirable to frighten them.

In systems now in use the chain is in two sections, a short horizontal prelinrinary section, which engages a pivoted gravity-dog at the back of the car and advances the car to the main inclined section and in doing so positions a rigid arm or projection extending downward from the back of the car to pick up or be engaged by the main section. The pivoted dog when unrestrained depends vertically, and it is found in practice that occasionally one of the lugs with which the chain is provided for engaging it strikes it squarely on the end and lifts the rear end of the car from the track and allows it to drop, leaving the dog several inches in advance of the next succeeding lug on the chain, which engages it with a sudden impact; but even when the car is not thus lifted, byreason of the normal vertical position of the dog and the distance through which its end must in consequence thereof swing as it drags over and falls in front of the lug when the lug overtakes and engages it, there is a shock.

One object' of the present invention is to eliminate these sudden shocks and jars.

Another object is to dispense with a preliminary chain and do the whole work with a single chain.

Another object is to permit the dog to automatically accommodate itself to the varying positions of the chain and follow it in its varying positions with relation to the bottom of the car without any possibility of its becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom, whether these variations are incident to undulations in the track or chain, or both, or to its swishing up and down as the load upon it varies.

To these ends the invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation, on a small scale, of a portion of a pleasure-railway embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an under side view of the gripper or device for engaging the traction-chain by which the cars are drawn up the incline. Fig. 3 is a top view thereof and of a few links of the tractionchain. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations thereof, showing in full lines the positions of the parts before and after engagement of the dog of the gripper with the chain, respectively. Fig.` 6 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line 6 6, Fig. 3, showing the dog and chain in engagement.

The general construction of railways of the class to which the invention belongs is well understood, and, excepting for the fragmentary representation in Fig. 1, it is not shown in the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, A represents the track.

(Egg) lit has at a horizontal portieri, 'which may be regarded as the starting point or station, an inclined portion a', and a portion e, proceeding from the summit of the inclined portion and continuing with varying undulations and sinuosities, returning eventually to the starting-point. Near the starting-point is located a sprocket-wheel B, and at or near the summit of the inclined portion is located a Io driving sprocket wheel B. The tractionchain C passes around these two sprocketwheels, and its upper side is intended to folflow, substantially, so far as it goes, the undulations of the track. The upper side of the I5 chain runs upon a supporting-board D, which extends from one sprocket wheel to the other, or thereabout, and follows the undulations of the track. That portion of the chain which runs from the wheel B to the lower end 2o of the straight inclined portion of the supporting-board may curve downward, as shown at c', while the portion c, which runs over the summit of the incline, is of course curved upward.

Preferably the sprocket-chain has at intervals special links C, the special feature of the link being a shoulder adapted to engage a dog D, secured to the car. Preferably two shoulders are used, each being formed on a lug C, projecting outward from the sides of the link, so that theyproject beyond the sides of the chain. I desire to have it understood, however, that in its broadest aspect the invention is not limited to these lugs, but, on

3 5 the contrary, comprehends any shoulder or shoulders carried by the chain and adapted to engage the dog. For the sake of brevity, however, the term lugs will hereinafter be used for designating this element or feature 4o of the device. The forward end is directly supported by a pivot-pin or shaft E, which passes through it and through perforated lugs or ears F, extending outward from the under side of a frame G, which is preferably of rec- 4 5 tangular shape and is secured to the bottom of the car by bolts g or other suitable fastening devices. The dog itself is shown in the drawings as comprising a tubular portion D, through which the pin E passes, a pair of side 5o arms D, extending radially from the tubular portion D, and a cross-arm D2, extending from one to the other of the side arms D and joining them near their extremities, the entire dog thus constructed being preferably 5 5 cast in one piece. The dog is capable of moving freely about its pivotal support g but the downward movement of its rear end relatively to the ear is limited by lugs H, which project from the tubular portion D and are 6o adapted to engage raised surfaces g on the frame G, whereby its downward movement is stopped or limited.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. l, the distance of the chain from the bottom of the car varies at different points, and it einem will also be varied by the sudden throwing on or taking off of a load. It is desirable that the free or rear end of the dog shall follow the normal variations-1ie., the variations that are incident to the undulations of the track- 7o and to this end it may swing freely from a position parallel with the bottom of the car downward far enough to engage the chain and follow its normal undulations. To this end it is of greater length than the normal maximum vdistance between its pivotal support and the chain. lt is also desirable that it shall grip the chain, so that it cannot be disengaged therefrom by the relative movement of the car and chain toward or from 8o each other whether this be due to normal undulations in the track and chain or to undulations in the chain due to varying loads. To this end it is shaped to provide at its end a toe d, which extends rearward beneath the lugs C. This toe is preferably provided by making the under side of the dog longer than the'upper side; but it is manifest that the result will follow regardless of the shape of the end of the dog so longv as that portion of it 9o which is below the lugs is of greater radius than the distance from the center of movement of the dog to its point of contact with the lugs.

From Fig. 6 it will be observed that the 95 cross-arm D2 contacts with the top of the chain, and thereby forms a stop for limiting the downward movement of the rear end of the dog relatively to the chain, so that the dog will be compelled to partake of any upward movement of the chain relatively to the car, and by reason of the toe d projecting beneath the lugs C, as already described, the rear end of the dog will be compelled to partake of the downward movement of the chain relatively to the car, so that within theper- IOO mitted movement ofthe dog about its pivotal support it cannot be disengaged from the chain excepting by a relative forward movement of the car. lt follows, therefore, that if for any reason the chain should tend to move away from the bottom of the car a distance exceeding its maximum normal distance therefrom the stop H would arrest the downward movement of the rear end. of the dog and the dog in turn would arrest the downward movement of the chain and support it until the abnormal condition was passed. Gravity alone might be suflicient to move the dog downward with the necessary quickness and certainty; but l prefer to use, in addition, a spring l, an intermediate portion of which is coiled around the tubular portion D/ of the dog and the ends of which bear upward and downward, respectively, against the bottom of the ear and the crossarm D2.

.In starting a car it should be given as nearly as ossible the speed of the chain. When the c og reaches the chain, the cross-arm IIO ' 2 will engage it and the rear end of the dog will ride thereon. If the speed of the car exceeds that of the chain, the under side of the dog may come in contact with the lugs C,

' and as the car proceeds the dog will be lifted to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 4. It will an instant thereafter drop in front of the lugs, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. Li, and as shown by full lines in Fig. 5. By reason of its comparatively great length, when it reaches the dotted position, with the cross-arm D2 resting upon rear end of the dog will be only afraction of an inch in advance of the lugs, so that when the lugs overtake it there will be no appreciable shock or jar. Of course this distance will vary with variations in the relative speed of the car and chain. If, perchance, the lugs in ascending to engaging positions should come in contact with the under side of the dog, they would lift it. If the speed of the car were then greater than that of the chain, the operations already described would take place, while, on the other hand, if the speed of the chain were greater than that of the car the next succeeding lugs would overtake and engage the rear end of the dog. In any event, however, it is not possible for the lugs to so engage the dog as to lift the car from the track.

In actual practice it is found that the device above described is practically free from all shocks incident to the picking up of the chain and is absolutely free from all severe shocks. This improved result is due to the great length of the dog as compared with the distance between its ivotal point and the chain. It is impossib e to state with mathematical accuracy the maximum angle of the dog with relation to the bottom of the car beyond which the dog may not pass without sacrificing the described advantages; but it may be said generally that the dog transmits the traction strains by an endwise thrust which is received directly by its pivotal support through which said strains are transmitted directly to the car as distinguished from a dog which transmits the traction strains by a lever action.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1 In a device of the class described a combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivotally supported at its forward end to the car and at its rear end adapted to engage the said shoulder, the length of the dog being greater than the normal distance between its pivot and the chain, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the cla-ss described the combination with a car and a chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted to the car and extending rearward from its pivot, the rear end of the dog being adapted to engage the said shoulder and the length of the dog being greater than the normal distance bei\ at its forward end to the car and adapted at the chain, the f tween its pivot and the chain, whereby the dog transmits the traction strains by an endwise thrust against its pivotal support, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted class described the its rear end to engage said shoulder and means for limiting the downward movement of the free end of the dog, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon of a dog pivoted at its forward end to the car and adapted at its rear' end to engage said shoulder', said dog having a portion adapted to engage the chain and prevent its downward movement relatively thereto, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted at its forward end to the car and adapted at its rear end to engage said shoulder, and a stop for limiting the downward movement of the dog, relatively to the car, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted at its'forward end to the car and adapted at its rear endto engage said shoulder, the rear end of the dog having a toe adapted to prevent its upward movement, substantially as described.

7 In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted at its forward end to the car and adapted at its rear end to engage said shoulder, said dog having means for engaging the top of the chain and thereby limiting its downward movement relatively thereto, and having also means for preventing its upward movement relatively to the chain when in engagement with the shoulder, substantially as escribed.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having a shoulder thereon, of a dog pivoted at its forward end to the car and adapted at its rear end to engage the shoulder, said dog having means adapted to engage the chain, for limiting its downward movement relatively thereto, and a spring impelling the dog downward, substantially as described.

9. Ina device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having lugs projecting from the sides thereof and providing shoulders, of a dog pivoted at its forward end and extending rearward from its pivotal support, the dog having side bars adapted to s'traddle the chain, and at their i rear ends engage the shoulders and means for IOO IIO

limiting the downward movement of the rear end of the dog relatively to the chain, sub* stantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain, having lugs projecting from the sides thereof and providing shoulders, of a dog pivoted at its forward end to the car and extending rearward from its pivot, said dog having a pair of side bars adapted to straddle the chain and at their rear ends engage said shoulders, said side bars having toes projecting beneath the lugs, the dog being provided also with means for engaging the chain and limiting the downward movement of its rear end relatively to the chain, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described the combination with a car and a traction-chain having lugs projecting from the sides thereof and providing shoulders, o1" a dog, a frame secured to the bottom of the car and having perforated ears extending downward, said dog having a tubular portion, passing through said tubular portion and through the perforated ears, said dog having also a pair of side bars which straddle the chain and are adapted at their rear ends to engage said shoulders, and means for limiting the downward movement of the rear end of the dog relatively to the chain, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. STRICKLER.

Witnesses:

F. GRIDELY, L. M. HOPKINS. 

